Gulfport to Pensacola Sailing Race starts Friday

The Gulfport to Pensacola Sailing Race gets underway Friday south of the Gulfport Yacht Club.

Over 50 boats are expected to compete in the race that starts at noon. The annual 100-mile race is sponsored by the Southern Yacht Club.

The Coast will be well represented with sailors from the Gulfport Yacht Club, Pass Christian Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club and Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.

Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans Yacht Club, Pensacola Yacht Club and Mobile Yacht Club are among the teams slated to compete. SYC won last week’s GYA Offshore Challenge Cup.

“The boats will come from all over,” Gulfport Yacht Club Sailing Director Samson Vasquez said. “You’ll see boats from Houston, New Orleans, the Coast, Mobile and Pensacola competing.”

Depending on weather conditions, boats are expected to arrive in Pensacola after midnight.

“We need a Southwest breeze and that’s what the weather forecast says,” Vasquez said. “Any East breeze isn’t favorable to our boats.”

Fresh Pineapple won last year’s race.

Fidelis II of Pass Christian Yacht Club took silver for placing second in Cruising Class Spinmaker, first in the Masters and Sawgrass.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Gulfport to Pensacola Sailing Race starts Friday."